Tractor toy



May 27,1930. ,l LL. MALLARD 1,760,423

TRAGTQR TOY Filed April z2, 19294 2 sheets-sheet 1 gwuefntoz LLMazzmz \L. L. MALLARD TRACTOR TOY 'May 27, 1930.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 22, 1929 gwwntoz 115 inprovidingra framecomprising opposed sub- `Patented May 27, 1930 y i N1,76a423 v UNITED STA-TESPATENTOFFIICE j groeien n. Manieren, or'` NoR'roLx, vInGINtA Tenero Appliqation mea' April 22,

This invention relates tol new and useful improvements in toys andthe primary obj ect is to provide a toydesigned in the form of a tractor which Iis adapted tov be drawn'along the ground by achildthrough the medium of a flexible connection. l 'i A further object of the i vention resides in providing a device of the character mentioned in which opposed guide membersarev provided between which operates loosely disposed Iground engagingelements, the latter pushing; one another forwardly as Athe device is drawn along the ground.

l Still another ob] ect of theinventionresides stantiallyfoval `shaped guide, members or tracks upon and between which the loosely disposed ground engaging members are supported, so "that as thedevice is propelled, l

`these ground engaging elementswill travel continuously around the opposed members,

themselves forcing" one another forwardly into ground engaging position. f

` Still another object resides in providing a `device which will beextremely novelin appearance,vinteresting-to children as well `as n silnple'rland durablein constructioni l With'theseandnumerous other objects in view my invention` consists in the novel features of construction, combination and` arrangementofparts aswill be hereinafter ,l referred to wandmore particularly `pointed out in the :specification andclaims.

n In the `accomp anying drawings Pertof this application n l i i l ujlFigurewl is sideelevation ofa toycon- "structed in accordance with my invention forming 1 a -Figure`2 is a vertical section therethrough n as seen` on the line 2-2 `of Figui-e1; i,

y Figure 3' is a fragmentaryplan view thereof withparts broken away l 1 l1 Figure A: fis `a vertical longitudinal: section as seen on the linevjei-#l of liigureyj` y l y Figure,` `5 is5 lan'end elevation of 1a slight modified v.form ofthe invention and v `Figure 6 is a vertical sectionthrough the` `latter as seen gon the linen-6 ofFigure, 1

i fIn :describing` the invention I shall refer therdrawngs in which similar-reference @hamsters designate mrrespondng -perts said" `blocks slidefloosely` sand `readily over these members 1 :and 2. :As many of the blocks maybe providedas desired to ll the ,drop `downwardly by gravity; over the curved n the device is propelled forwardly. Y

so. f that the 1 device n may` be drawn r overM the R TOY n 1929. Serial No."357,288. V i

throughout the several views and in which 1 and 2 designate substantially oval-shaped track members which are positioned in `opposed relation and held in spaced yrelation one tothe other,;through the medium of brac'- ing elements 5 and 6. These track members are formed preferably of metalland aref'substantially channelshaped incross sectionyas clearly shown'in `Figure 2;"of thedrawings.

The purpose of this will `be" hereinafterand ce more particularly set forth.;` l Supported `on `certain i of the transverse bracing elements 5 1s a member 7 representing.;l

a pilot `house or cock-pit inwhich isdisposed afigure represented by the numeral.` Any i form offgureor member may be placed in y U ,thisposition as a substitute if desired,as this forms no essential feature of the invention. 'pI-he tractor feature Vofthis `device is supplied by the medium ofa plurality of blocks 9, in the ends of which are provided grooves A1V()\for reception therein of the outer-most horizontal flange of the channel-shaped members :1 and `2, asclearlygrshown in Figures 2 Y and 4 of the drawings. Theseblocks 9 are swung. into place between the track members `1 and 2 so that the grooveslO receive the up# per-most flanges of these members g1 and 2 and entire-space, ifV desired, but preferably a less ,number is provided: than would be `necessary to thev entire rack so thatthe blocks may Y `18.5 forward portion of themembers 1 and 2 as `A bail memb ern/12 engaged the meme `bers 1 and 2.at `theforward endfthereof to" `whichfis connectedwa: flexibler connection 13 ground by a child playing therewith. As the device is drawn forwardly the elements 9 contacting with the surface of the ground will be forced rearwardly one against the other and said members are forced over the tracks l and 2, travelling continuously thereover. f As the--blockmembers 9 yon "the upper stretchlof 'the track members land` 2 'reach the forward curvature of said members they willv dro downwardly V by gravity into A,position to ge ground. In this manner a tractor is `provided Wherein the tractor elements aredthemselves disconnected and force one another over the tracks and into ground engaging position. y e

InfFigui-es I5 and 6 as shown "a slightly modified 'form of groundV engagingfelements. Each such element, designated yby the inumeral 14 is made from `a"singlestrip of meta-l "berit'and looped :to yform a lmIlOwineInber. One faceof the member'is corrugated as shownatfl, the corrugations extending llongitudinally of the member to VVform friction means for engaging the Vsur-face of Ythe ground. The end'eiges 'oftheinember 14.- are rd as shownn at l''toreceivethe'i-ein the upper horizontal ianges of vthe track rinein- 'bers 17and"2. Thisifs'one modification of down-engaging elements and it 'will' be y understoodV that various other En'iodiiications lmay rbeuti'liz'edf. In the preferred form of the vinvention using the blocks 9 vthe weight of the blocks tend to'retain'the device against 'the surface of'ltlie ground. AWhen 'usingthe modification as shown in 'Figures 5 and 6, should the devic'ebe too light, a'weiyght'inember -niaybeprovided'in connection Awith the ligure or hou'singheld' between 'the vopposed track members.` g Y This toy, as stated herenbove, isusefi'il 'fior instruction' 7purposes land *to lcarry out this idea, the upper faces ofthe blocks `9 arep'ief- `erabl s" respectively 'provided with 'letters of the alphabet, Which'may 'bei painted or otherwise Vinscribedthereon. A As fthe device is these letters may 1 be viewed-'from the top "ofthe device and afs the blocksmove 'forwardly on the i device "the various ,letters may'be 'studied f a' chil,I playing with' the toy. The use of'lettersfia"ofcourse, illustrated of omem'ans f'applying instruction educational elements to this device and I do notwishfto'be limited strictly/to ythe use ofthe letters ofthe' alphabet asfit is apparent timttvari'ilsfotherilustrations may be' used rt'o actbmpxlisn'the same purpose.v l Y t e lioregoingdesei'jiption of thefc'onof ni'yimproved device,`fthe1opra itwill seen nthat I have rovidedafsimple, nexnsite randIetic'ieniiti j eaiisffer carrying 'dut y objects thefinvention. L y 1 Y While #I Ahave alitieulariy descbeii 'fthe dem man wdofpefforni the ffuneengaged with Ithe "surface o1 the tions set forth, it is obvious that various changes in form, proportion and in the minor details of construct-ion may be restorted to, without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the principles of the invention.

Having thus described the invention what I claim is:

1.V In a toy of the class described, a body member characterized by spaced endless track members bracing elements connecting "saidtr'ack mem`be`rs,"and a. plurality of disconnected track-retained ground engaging members slidably mounted thereon, adapted to move over Said-tracks as the device is propelled.l 2. In fa 'toy ofthe class described, la body member characterized by spaced endless trackme'mbers, bracing elements connecting 'said track members, anda pluralityof disconnected -track-retained ground engaging members slidably mounted thereon, adapted to-niove over said'tracks asthe device is propelled.

3. Ina vtoy of the class described, abody member characterized by spaced endless track members, bracing elements connecting said track members, a plurality of'disconnected track-retained ground engaging members slidably mounted'thereon, 4adapted to move over 'said tracks 'as the device is 'propelled, and friction means on the vground engaging faces of said last mentionedmembers.

'4. rIn Aa toy ofthe class describecha'body member vcharacterized by spaced endless track members, bracingelements connecting 'said track members, a plurality of members slidably engaged'with and adapted to ftr'avel over said'track'members, saidflajst mentioned -members being disconnected and adapted'to Contact 'Withthesurface 'off-the ground asthe device is propelled'andfpush one another end- 'lesslyaround'saidtrack members. l 1

55.1In'a toy ofthe class d'escribed,'a body A-m'ember characterized by spaced Vvendless vtrack members, bracing" elements connecting saidtrack members,fa plurality ofy blocklli'ke members slidably 'engaged with said :'t'iack members, saidfblock-like`membersbeiiig disconnected and adapted t'o` engage the surface of the ground 'when travelling over 'thel'o'wer stretch ofthe "trac-k members as the device vis propelled, Vpusliii'ig Aonel 1lanother endlessly over saidj tr'a'ckme'inbers,j and friction me'a'ns lon the outer ground Veri-'gaging surfaces for' s'aid block-like members. f f f 6. Inl 'a t'oy` of the vclass"described, 'af body member '-chara'cterized by 'spaced endless track members havingfinwardly extending flanges there'on bracing 'elements connecting 'said "tr'ack members, rf'a 'plurality of disconnectedV il'fiook-like members having 'grooves' in "tlie"ends"thereof receiving th'e"y ianges' of 4the tijkf 'Members therein tO :permit looseslidf'able movement' tof said blckdlre members" on ico ils

the track members, said block-like members being adapted to contact-with the surface of the ground in movement over the lower stretch of the track members Vand push one another endlessly over the latter as the r de- Y vice is propelled.

7. In a toy of the class described, a body member characterized by spaced endless track members, bracing elements connecting said track members, and a plurality of disconnected track-retained ground engaging p `members slidablyA mounted thereon, said ground engaging members having instruc` tional indicia on the, outer faces thereof observable as said members travel over the l upper stretch of said track members, said vground engaging members travelling over the lower stretch of said track members pushing one another endlessly over the track members as the device is propelled.

8; In a toy of the class described, a body member characterized by spaced endless engaging members v indicia on the outer faces thereof 0btrack members, bracing elements connecting said track members, a plurality of disconnected track-retained-ground engaging membersslidablymounted thereon, said ground having instructional servable as said latter members travel over the upper stretch of said track members, friction means on said outer Vfaces of the ground engaging members to assist in the movement of the latter over the lower stretch of the trackmembers as the device is propelled, said ground engaging members on the lower stretch of the track members push-V ing one another and the remaining ground engaging members endlessly over said tracks, as and for the purposes described.V v

In testimony whereof I ailix my signature.

` LOGAN L. MALLARD. 

